Phone subscriptions for internationals: What you need to know

Whether you’ve just moved here or are looking to change your mobile phone provider, finding a phone subscription in the Netherlands can be a daunting task. So many advertisements! So many choices! So many requirements!

Sometimes, it seems as if you’re stuck in a Catch-22 situation: you need a BSN (Dutch social security number) to get a contract, but you often have to pay for it with a Dutch bank card. But to open a Dutch bank account, you will have to provide most banks with a BSN number (four banks in the Netherlands – ING, bunq, ABN Amro and Revolut – let you open an account without it, but you still have to provide them with a BSN number within 90 days).

To avoid this bureaucratic spiral, mobile service provider Simyo offers contracts without the usual required BSN number, giving you the option of moving beyond the prepaid plans most other companies offer to those without a BSN.

You can also use a foreign bank account to pay for your contract (although you must arrange that with customer service).

What’s the deal?

Simyo has been voted Best in Test by the independent Dutch consumer organization Consumentenbond for the second quarter of this year – its 38th time with that distinction.

Launched by telecom giant KPN some 20 years ago as an online-only mobile service provider, the budget Simyo uses KPN’s reliable 5G network, meaning you get excellent quality for a competitive price. (And if you have KPN internet and TV, you’ll get extra data at no charge.)

“Overall satisfaction with Simyo receives a 9.8 in the second quarter,” writes the Consumentenbond, which rates how satisfied customers are with their provider. Overall, Simyo got a rating of 8.2, “making it the Best in Test in during the second quarter of 2026.”

Specifically, says the Consumentenbond, “Customers report few outages regarding mobile internet and calling. They also experience few issues with slow connections. Administrative problems hardly occur. For example, about 1% reports a non-working SIM card, problems logging into the account, or an unjustified debit.”

Simyo’s mobile abonnement beat out Odido, Lebara and Vodafone/Ziggo, among others, in the consumer organization’s ratings.

À la carte pricing
Simyo offers both Sim Only and phone subscriptions that bear out its stellar quality to price ratio, with a Sim Only plan costing as little as €6,50 per month for the first year, increasing to €15 per month after 12 months. (And that includes Dutch taxes!)

For those looking for a subscription, plans offering 40 GB of data and 400 min/sms start for just €6,50 monthly (a temporary offer). You choose your plan à la carte, meaning you can decide how many minutes, gigabytes or months you’re looking for and the price will adjust automatically as you build your plan on Simyo’s website.

Buy a data cap
Don’t forget to take out the data cap for an additional €1 per month to save you from unexpected costs when your bundle runs out; your internet will then stop automatically when it reaches your limit.

Flexibility
Flexibility is another compelling reason to choose Simyo: monthly subscriptions allow you to adjust or cancel according to your needs and budget, doing away with those one- or two-year set contracts that lock you and your bank account in until they expire. That’s a huge advantage for internationals residing in the Netherlands for just a short period.

Data bundle
Simyo offers a data bundle for outside the EU that makes calling and internet surfing affordable while travelling.

eSIM cards
Simyo also offers eSIM (embedded SIM) cards that save you the hassle of inserting plastic chips, as you can download your mobile plan by scanning a code or using an app. You can manage your subscription via the user-friendly Mijn Simyo app.

“I wanted a second mobile number, for distant external contacts, to protect my main number,” wrote user Bert on Trustpilot, who gave Simyo a 5-star rating. “With an e-sim card from Simyo, I fixed that in 15 minutes, and it works fine.”

So if you’re looking for a new mobile phone plan, updating your old one or buying one for your teenage children, Simyo is an easy, affordable and reliable choice.

Click here to build your subscription today. It only takes minutes.